Tibetans Thank Dalai Lama on 50th Democracy Day

September 3rd 2010

His Holiness accepts the Golden Seal from TPIE Speaker Penpa Tsering and

Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari,

Bylakuppe, 2 Sept 2010

Bylakuppe,
Karnataka, India, 2 September 2010 (By Tenzin Tsering, phayul.com) - The 50th anniversary celebrations of Tibetan democracy
was commemorated today in Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan settlement in
India where the first Tibetan General Meeting concluded yesterday.

At
the official function at Sera monastic university, the Tibetan
government and people honored their leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama
with “the Golden Seal” for leading the Tibetan freedom struggle and for
establishing democracy in Tibetan polity. The Tibetan leader accepted
the award from Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan parliament in
exile.

Among those present at the official function were 17
parliamentarians from 14 different countries including members of
International Network for Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPat), Karnataka
State government’s Minister for Medical Education Ramachandra Gowda,
Tibetan parliamentarians, members of the Kashag and other dignitaries of
the exile Tibetan government.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama
thanked the members of parliament from other countries for their support
to the Tibetan government and its people. “I always say that those of
you who support us are not pro Tibet but pro justice. Your support
encourages the Tibetan people in keeping their hopes alive and it also
helps in creating awareness among a lot of Chinese people in mainland
China who are unaware of the reality,” said His Holiness.

“There
are voices for change in the Communist Chinese policies, especially
from Chinese intellectuals which in itself is a significant change in
the Chinese regime. Such voices for change and reform would have
guaranteed imprisonment in the early years of Communist China. Now there
are changes in the general Chinese mentality regarding Tibet,” His
Holiness added.

The Tibetan leader expressed his gratitude to
the Karnataka State government and the Indian government for providing
refuge to the Tibetans thereby helping preserve the distinct culture and
identity of Tibet in the various Tibetan settlements.

Addressing
the gathering, the Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche said,
“Democracy will remain incomplete until the entire Tibetan people of
Tibet get a genuine autonomy with freedom of conscience, speech, human
dignity and where human rights are duly respected.”

He further
urged the world parliamentarians to bring democracy to those nations
where it does not exist and stressed on “genuine democracy as the best
remedy to all human problems of today.”

Speaker of the Tibetan
Parliament in exile, Penpa Tsering said, “Struggle for democracy around
the world is achieved with bloody revolutions. But His Holiness with his
benevolent leadership has awarded democracy to the Tibetans, which is
one of the rare historic moments of the world.” The Speaker also urged
“the Tibetans spread across the world to participate in the coming
elections of Kalon Tripa and members of the parliament to contribute to
the success of Tibetan democracy.”

This year completes 50 years
since His Holiness the Dalai Lama declared democracy for Tibetans in
1960 and promulgated a constitution for a future Tibet, based on the
principles of modern democracy.

To support his declaration of
democracy, His Holiness the Dalai Lama established a Tibetan
Government-in-exile, with a parliament directly elected by the people.
As part of democratic reforms, the Dalai Lama, in 1991, announced the
“Charter for Tibetans in exile”, which, amongst other things, expanded
the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, (now called Tibetan
Parliament in exile) and were empowered to appoint the Cabinet (Tib:
Kashag).

As part of further democratization, in 2000, the Tibetan
leader instituted another reform, requiring exile Tibetans to directly
elect their Prime Minister with full administrative power. In 2001, for
the very first time, Tibetans from 27 countries voted on a single day,
with more than 80 percent electing Professor Samdhong Rinpoche as the
first Kalon Tripa elected directly by the people. The former academician
is now in his second term that ends next year when the Tibetans will go
to polls to elect the next Prime Minister and 15th Tibetan parliament
in exile.

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